Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-20

Portland Press
DR.. DANA CR!TICIsEs THE RESOLUTIONS OF |
THE MAINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
of their u

To the Editor of the Press
In your issue of Thursday morning the
resolutions of the Maine Medical Assocla
ton concerning the matter of the Act to Reg
ulate the Practice of Medicine are published
They were adopted by ''unanimous rising
vote" just below in the column | am
credited with reading paper before the
Association soon after the passage of the
resolutions. As do not wish to be under
stood to have voted for the resolutions | beg
leave 10 say few words.
| | was not present when the resolutions were
presented. 1t was my desire and intention
to be present, but being prevented at the last
moment, lost that opportunity to hear them
read, to record one vote against them, or to
propose some essential modification Of them
as | would have done.
appreciate very highly the remarkably
able ana exhaustive report OF the committee
on the status Of the Registration Act, EN-
bodying and putting upon record the precise
facts in the case as they found them to be.
feel as deeply as any one the loss both to the
community and the profession from the fail
ure OF the Act to 90 into operation after its
passage through the two houses bv such de-
clslve maJOrltles. | regret exceedingly that
the Governor did not accede to the request
Of the committee and refer to the Supreme
Court. for prompt and final settlement, the
question so urgent in the minds of SO many
citizens, 'whether the Act entitled an Act to
Regulate the Practice of Medicine enacted at
the recent session of the legislature, is or is
not public law of the State" Such mod
of settling the veXed question would seem to
the common mind to accord equally with
the honor of the Chief Magistrate and the
reasonable wishes of large number of citi-
zens. Would that Gov. Bodwell had at once
avaied himself of it.
The adoption of resolutions by a scientific
association does not preclude fur her discus
sion of the involved subject at another time
rhe humbIest member having voted. and on
more miture reelection having reached de
teren: conclusion. may later find time to
express it, while absent members, hearing of
action taken, are quite at lib .rty to seek OPP
portunity to express assent or dissent. The
subjeCt matter of these resolutions being one
OF public concern, and the me- tngs of the
ASSOCIATION occurring only annually, desire
to express, by Your courtesy, several obJec-
tons to the resolutions MS passed:
They assume that the act had become a
law, thus begging the very question which
the committee asked the G Ivernor To refer to
the Supreme Court. VIZ: Whether the act is
or is not now a law The Medical Maine Asso-
citation and its legal advisers believe II is The
Governor, having taken advice, believes il is
not a law. The question Is vet sub jHdtce.
and can only BE- s-rtled, as | understand, by
an opinion of the supreme Court
2-The resolutions further assume tn t
the refusal OF the governor to refer the ones
ton 10 the supreme trbInal "dlspay either
the disposition of drsppt or the servllitv
of pusilammnus agent of interruptions
political masters" l. there indeed no other
possible alternative within the scope of calm
and charitable judgment? Do far minded
honorable aud competent men never make
mistake>t Is It quit impossible that a mis-
take IN this case might yet be untalnted by
the spirit either of the tvrant or the cowar RI?
3-rhe question being still unsettled
whether the act is or Is not law, | cannot
vote the Governor to be guilty of "violating
his oath of otiice." or of ''attemping to
overthrow a statute" because he does not en-
force an act which he AMI his legal advisers
do not CONSIDER to have become law.
claim tor the Maine Medical Association
and for the humbIest Individual member OF
it equally the right to have and to hold, and
in suitable ways to declare their individual
opinions and judgments of public acts in
which they are interested The Chief Magis
trate of the State can scarcely be supposed
to possess a less absolute right of individual
Judgment and expression. The solemn con-
stitutionsl responsibility rests upon him of
exercising his individual Judgment and con
science in the decision OF many questions
of public import. For one | could not have
voted for the resolutions as thew stand.
There is too much of the personal in them
They undertake too much Interpretation OF
motive.
In considering questions of motive should
not the long life of our Governor lived in
the midst of his fellow citizens and distin
gui-hed alike by energy and integrity, be en-
titled to some weigh?